On the other hand, it is addictive and highly toxic when we drink too much of it.

The truth is that the health effects of alcohol are actually quite complex.

They vary between individuals, and depend on the amount consumed and the type of alcoholic beverage.

So, how does alcohol affect your health?

Let’s have a look…

What is Alcohol and Why do People Drink it?

The active ingredient in alcoholic beverages is called ethanol.

Generally referred to as “alcohol,” ethanol is the substance that makes you drunk.

Ethanol is produced by yeasts when they digest sugar in certain carb rich foods, such as grapes (wine) or grains (beer).

Alcohol is the most popular recreational “drug” in the world. It can have very powerful effects on your mood and mental state.

Alcohol can reduce self-consciousness and shyness, making it easier for people to act without inhibition. At the same time, it can impair judgment and make people do things that they end up regretting (1, 2).

Some people drink small amounts at a time, while others tend to binge drink. Binge drinking involves drinking large amounts at a time, in order to get drunk.

Bottom Line: Ethanol is the active ingredient in alcoholic drinks, generally referred to as “alcohol.” It can have powerful effects on your mental state.

Alcohol is Neutralized by the Liver

The liver is a remarkable organ with hundreds of functions in the body.

One of its main functions is to neutralize all sorts of toxic substances we consume. For this reason, the liver is particularly vulnerable to damage by alcohol intake (3).

The first of these to appear is fatty liver, characterized by increased fat inside liver cells.

Fatty liver develops in 90% of those who drink more than 16 g (about half an ounce) of alcohol per day and is usually symptomless and fully reversible (4, 5).

In heavy drinkers, binge drinking may cause the liver to become inflamed. In worst case scenarios, liver cells die and get replaced with scar tissue, leading to a serious condition called cirrhosis (3, 6, 7).

Cirrhosis is irreversible and associated with many serious health problems. In advanced cirrhosis, getting a new liver (a liver transplant) may be the only option.

Bottom Line: Alcohol is metabolized by the liver, and frequent consumption can lead to increased fat inside liver cells. Alcohol abuse can lead to cirrhosis, a very serious condition.

Alcohol and the Brain

Excessive alcohol consumption can have numerous adverse effects on the brain.

Ethanol basically reduces communication between brain cells, a short-term effect responsible for many of the symptoms of being drunk.

Binge drinking may even lead to a blackout, a phenomenon characterized by memory loss (amnesia) during a heavy drinking episode (8).

These effects are only temporary, but chronic alcohol abuse may cause permanent changes in the brain, often leading to impaired brain function (9, 10, 11).

The brain is actually very sensitive to damage caused by chronic alcohol abuse (12), which may increase the risk of dementia (13) and cause brain shrinkage in middle-aged and elderly people (14, 15).

In worst case scenarios, the severity of brain damage may impair people’s ability to lead an independent life.

Conversely, drinking moderately has been linked with reduced risk of dementia, especially in elderly people (16, 17, 18).

Bottom Line: While alcohol intoxication is only temporary, chronic alcohol abuse can impair brain function permanently. However, moderate drinking may have benefits for brain health, especially among elderly people.

Alcohol and Depression

The association of alcohol intake and depression is close but complex (19).

While alcohol intake and depression seem to increase the risk of each other simultaneously, alcohol abuse may be the stronger causal factor (20, 21, 22).

Many people suffering from anxiety and depression drink intentionally to reduce stress and improve mood (23, 24). This may work for a few hours, but will worsen overall mental health and lead to a vicious cycle.

Heavy drinking has actually been shown to be a major cause of depression in some individuals, and treating the alcohol abuse leads to big improvements (25, 26, 27).

Bottom Line: Alcohol abuse and depression are linked. People may start abusing alcohol due to depression, or become depressed from abusing alcohol.

Alcohol and Body Weight

Obesity is a serious health concern.

Alcohol is actually the second most energy rich nutrient after fat, providing about 7 calories per gram.

Alcohol and Cancer

Alcohol consumption is a risk factor for cancers of the mouth, throat, colon, breast, and liver (57, 58, 59).

The cells lining the mouth and throat are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of alcohol. Not surprising, since they are directly exposed to the stuff.

Even light alcohol consumption, 1 drink per day, is linked to a 20% increased risk of mouth and throat cancer (59, 60).

The risk increases with the daily amount consumed. More than 4 drinks daily appear to cause a five-fold increase in the risk of mouth and throat cancer, and also increase the risk of breast, colon and liver cancer (58, 59, 61, 62).

Drinking During Pregnancy May Cause Birth Defects

Alcohol abuse during pregnancy is the leading preventable cause of birth defects in the US (63).

Binge drinking early in pregnancy is particularly risky for the developing baby (64).

In fact, it may have adverse effects on development, growth, intelligence, and behavior, which may affect the child for the rest of its life (63).

Bottom Line: Alcohol abuse is one of the world’s most common causes of birth defects. The fetus is particularly vulnerable early in pregnancy.

Alcohol and Risk of Death

Abraham Lincoln once said, “It has long been recognized that the problems with alcohol relate not to the use of a bad thing, but to the abuse of a good thing.”

Interestingly, there appears to be a grain of truth in his words. Studies suggest that light and moderate consumption of alcohol may to cut the risk of premature death, especially in Western societies (65, 66).

At the same time, alcohol abuse is the third main cause of preventable death in the US (67), being an important cause of chronic diseases, accidents, traffic crashes, and social problems.

Bottom Line: Moderate alcohol consumption may increase life expectancy, while alcohol abuse is a strong risk factor for premature death.

Alcohol is Addictive, Leading to Alcoholism in Predisposed Individuals

Some people become addicted to the effects of alcohol, a condition called alcohol dependence (alcoholism).

An estimated 12% of Americans are believed to have been dependent on alcohol at some point in their life (68).

Alcohol dependence is one of the main causes of alcohol abuse and disability in the US and a strong risk factor for various diseases (69).

Numerous factors can predispose people to problem drinking, such as family history, social environment, mental health, and genes.

Many different subtypes of alcohol dependence have been defined, characterized by alcohol cravings, inability to abstain, or loss of self-control when drinking (70).

As a rule of thumb, if alcohol is causing problems in your life, then you may have a problem with alcohol dependence or alcoholism.

Bottom Line: Alcohol consumption can lead to alcohol dependence, or alcoholism, in predisposed individuals.

Alcohol Abuse Can be Absolutely Disastrous For Health

Heavy drinking is the most common form of drug abuse.

Chronic alcohol abuse can have catastrophic health effects, affecting the entire body and causing a range of health problems.